38 Facts About Paul Potts

Paul Potts had been a Bristol city councillor from 1996 until 2003, and performed in amateur opera from 1999 to 2003.

Paul Potts was born on 13 October 1970 in Kingswood, Bristol, and raised in nearby Fishponds by his father Roland, a bus driver, and mother, Yvonne, a supermarket cashier.

Paul Potts attended St Mary Redcliffe and Temple School, where he developed his love of singing.

Paul Potts sang with the choir at Chester Park Junior School and with the choirs at several Bristol churches, including Christ Church.

Paul Potts has said that his voice had always been a source of solace in the past when he was bullied.

In 1996, Paul Potts was elected in a council by-election to represent the Eastville ward of Bristol City Council as a Liberal Democrat councillor; he was the youngest member of Bristol City Council and served until 2003.

Paul Potts first sang opera in the minor roles of the Prince of Persia and the Herald in Puccini's Turandot for Bath Opera, an amateur company, in 1999.

Paul Potts then performed leading roles on four occasions: Don Basilio in Mozart's Marriage of Figaro in 2000; Don Carlos in Verdi's Don Carlos in 2001; Don Ottavio in Mozart's Don Giovanni in 2003; and Radames in Verdi's Aida in 2003.

Paul Potts performed the role of the Chevalier des Grieux in Puccini's Manon Lescaut for the Southgate Opera Company in London, an amateur company, in May 2003.

In several interviews, Paul Potts revealed that he performed Aida despite doctors' wishes to remove an adrenal tumour they had discovered during his illness from a burst appendix, and shortly after the tumour surgery performed Manon Lescaut.

Paul Potts broke his collarbone and suffered whiplash in a bicycle accident in 2003.

Paul Potts auditioned for Simon Cowell's new talent show Britain's Got Talent at the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff, Wales on 17 March 2007.

Paul Potts sang the full rendition of Giacomo Puccini's "Nessun dorma," which was condensed for broadcast.

Paul Potts received a standing ovation from the audience of 2,000 people.

Paul Potts performed "Nessun dorma" again for his finale on 17 June 2007, as well as an encore after he won the competition.

Paul Potts then performed Sarah Brightman's "Nella Fantasia" at the Royal Variety Performance on 3 December 2007, in front of Queen Elizabeth II.

Together they performed a dance routine finishing with Paul Potts singing "Nessun Dorma" with Diversity dancing to the song.

Paul Potts was accused of being an experienced performer who was reaping the benefit of professional training.

Paul Potts responded that he had never worked as a professional singer.

Paul Potts had paid for lessons, but everyone taking part in the show had had some training.

Paul Potts had not claimed to be untutored, but had never performed any concert for pay and was therefore an amateur.

Paul Potts said that the Pavarotti masterclass he attended in Italy was paid for from his own savings.

Paul Potts's comments were confirmed by the singing teacher who gave him lessons until Potts gave up in 2003 due to illness.

In July 2007, Paul Potts performed "Nessun dorma" at a Katherine Jenkins concert at Margam Park, Wales.

On 24 November 2007, Paul Potts was interviewed on the National Public Radio programme Weekend Edition.

In October 2008, Paul Potts sang in Japanese TV advertisements for Ryukakusan Direct throat medicine.

Paul Potts received two nominations at the Echo Awards 2009 in Germany: Best International Male Artist and Album of the Year.

Paul Potts won the 2009 Echo Award for Best International Male Artist on 21 February 2009.

On 22 April 2009, Paul Potts was the guest co-host on the Australian television programme The Morning Show with Kylie Gillies.

Paul Potts collaborated with Swedish singer Carola Haggkvist on her Christmas album Christmas in Bethlehem, singing "O Holy Night".

Paul Potts has appeared twice on the popular Korean Talent TV show Star King, first in 2008 and in 2010.

Paul Potts participated in the soundtrack of the 2009 Korean historical drama Queen Seondeok, singing two major characters, Deokman and Yushin's love theme "Passo Dopo Passo" in Italian, meaning "Step by Step".

Paul Potts performed a duet with Hayley Westenra, Sei Con Me, featured in his 2009 album Passione.

Paul Potts was in Toronto on 10 November 2010 performing a "flash opera" at the Union Subway Station to a moderately-sized crowd and finished to loud applause.

In 2013 Paul Potts appeared on the Korean television programme Qualifying Man.

In September 2017, Paul Potts won the 320th episode of the South-Korean television music competition Immortal Songs: Singing the Legend, in a duet with Bae Da-hae.

In 2019, Paul Potts competed in America's Got Talent: The Champions, reaching the final 12, but did not secure a place among the top 5 finalists.

Paul Potts met his wife Julie-Ann in an Internet chat room in 2001 and shortly after that they met face-to-face.